West tapped him, not slap him. After Dirk was frustrated late in the game by using dirty tactics.
Number 3 was a fluke MVP. It showed in the playoffs.
Number 4 with the so-so defense and no post scoring is sorely because of him. He chose to be the kind of player who plays the perimeter instead of controlling the paint. That reason alone was why they were always considered a regular season team and why they couldn't beat Golden State. He couldn't do what a midget like Boozer did the next series and abuse them in the paint. Dirk is 7 ft tall not 6'8 like David West.
Dirk was fortunate in 2006 he faced a Spurs team with an injured Duncan and faced the Suns without Amare just like he faced the Kings in 2003 without Webber.
Dirk has put up alot of numbers throughout his career, and will be a HOFer, but he's not a superstar caliber player. Guys like Terry, Howard, Stackhouse, etc played a huge part in the Mavs success.